Celtic Diary Sunday March 19: Doncaster Refuses To Deny Collusion

Neil Doncaster, the man who is charged with running the SPFL, has been asked to deny collusion as the EBT scandal and all of its effects begins to finally rear its head in the media.

So far, and he’s had a couple of days, he hasn’t denied it.

Draw your own conclusions.

A failure to categorically deny the shennanigans he’s being accused of can only mean he cannot deny it, as far as I’m concerned.

But we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he just hasn’t checked his correspondence.

The pressure is mounting on the powers that be at the SFA after the Supreme Court politely listened to the defence put forward by liquidators BDO as to why everybody should have an EBT instead of paying tax. After retiring to a back room, giggling for a bit and catching up on old times, the judges agreed to “let the bastards stew for a bit” before delivering their verdict in a few months.

The trouble with dodging taxes and getting caught is that you will inevitably answer to people who do pay their taxes, and they tend to be a little bit pissed off with you.

As a lot of peepil are about to find out.

This whole scam has been going on for a while, and the question remains, why wasn;t it dealt with earlier.

Possibly the first warning for the tax dodgers came way back in 2006, on the Kerrydale Street website, which, at the time, had recently split from the old Etims forum..

Ten and a half years ago.

In 2009, according to a secondary source, who surprisingly for Etims, was quite sober and fragrant, the SPL got a short sharp reminder from HMRC… a section 36 notice, which should have drawn their attention to the matter.

A section 36 notice is, in effect, a warning that someone is at it, and it needs looking into.

Perhaps, as we suspect with Neil Doncaster, they don’t always read their correspondence.

Or, perhaps, as we suspect with Neil Doncaster, they just ignore the bits they don;t want to read…

There was almost certainly contact in 2009, but it somehow never got to SPL board level, which won’t surprise anyone.

If this turns out to be true, and at the rate the fiasco is starting to unravel, that won’t be long, then someone needs to explain why the unease of HMRC at the use of EBTs was not investigated.

As the story unfolds, and more information is released, it is beginning to seem like not only were the authorities aware of the scandal, and if its on public forums then it follows that those in charge must have also had their suspicions- but actively tried to cover it up.

A bit like old Rangers did.

They appear to have, since 2011, even attempted to minimise the effects of EBTs, or “cheating “, as its more commonly known.

A bit like old Rangers did.

Which suggests collusion.

What we need now is a full and frank statement from all those concerned in positions of authority that they had absolutely nothing to do with any collusion or corruption.

We need the SFA and the SPFL to reassure the clubs, the support and the sponsors that there was not, and never has been, any possibility that they did not heed entirely to the rules and laws of the game.

Of course, they can refuse to make such a statement.

Which means they are refusing to deny it….

Back at the ranch, and Celtic visit Dundee today, which is infinitely preferable to my schedule for the next few hours, which involves Ikea, which apart from great strikers, useful defenders and the blonde lass out of Abba, does a decent line in bedroom furniture.

One might argue, somewhat incorrectly, the the blond lass herself would make a fine piece of bedroom furnitre herself, but I’m not that sort of fellow.

Up at Dens, i’m kind of worried that the unbeaten season might finally come to an end..

Watch out for Marcus Haber, a striker whose statistics suggest that he won;t be at dundee for much longer, something that also applies to keeper Scott Bain, who usually plays well against Celtic, though thats because he keeps looking at our bench and shouting over to keep his seat warm…

In the last three league games against Paul Hartleys side, Celtic have only scored three goals…

Add this to the fact that we , er , underperformed last week against “rangers “, and this might not be a sunday stroll for the hoops.

Having said this, though, why not take a trip to the bookies and put money on Stuart Armstrong to score at any time, and Leigh Griffiths to bag two or more ?

I’ll tell you why not, because I suggested it.

My last bet involved a seven team accumulator where I got every one single forecast wrong.

Transfer tittle tattle now, and we’re away looking at another wonderkid, presumably because it doesn;t look like the hoops will win the Development league this year… this is from Football Insider, which seems a strange place to play it.

Celtic are eyeing a move for Australian sensation Riley McGree, according to his club’s transfer chief.

Adelaide Olympic technical director Albert Kidd has claimed that he has been told by Celtic scout Tosh McKinlay that the Scottish giants are keeping close tabs on the midfielder, 18.

McGree has been called up into the Australia squad for their World Cup double-header against Iraq and United Arab Emirates later this month after impressing for Adelaide United.

The central midfielder made his first-team debut last August and has made just 12 appearances in the A-League but is earning rave reviews from coaches and pundits, and Celtic are said to be pursing him closely.

Kidd, who is now at rivals Adelaide Olympic as technical director, has revealed Celtic interest in McGree via his former Dundee team mate Tosh McKinlay on Australia’s Triple M radio station the Real Football Show.

“I’m in very close contact with my ex team-mate Tosh McKinlay and we have talked about Riley McGree,” said Kidd, as quoted by the Scottish Sun. “They are showing a lot of interest.”

Celtic would have to negotiate a fee for McGree as the youngster is under contract at Adelaide until the end of next year.

The teenager was handed his World Cup call-up partly because of the injury to Celtic’s own Australian midfielder Tom Rogic, who is expected to be out for the season.

Well, we need to plan for next year, because

And they are right behind their boss, even if they are so excited about him they forgot to switch the spellchecker on..

In fact, they seem to be getting excited about all sorts of things, and forgetting that someone actually has to read what they write..

More worryingly for us than the antics of the support should be the top level negotiations going on behind closed doors..

Already we can see that there has been considerable investment in the boardroom…

Caixinha’s all dancing all singing “rangers ” side beat Hamilton 4-0 yesterday, failing to reach the standard set by his predeccesor Graeme Murty, who led them to a 6-1 win.

But that doesn’t matter, Timmy..

Meanwhile, Aberdeen beat Hearts to keep their recent run going…

This treble isn’t going to be easy.

No Diary yesterday-I started one but then realised it wasn;t of the exceptional high quality you are used to, so I scrapped it. Or, it could just be that I didn’t have time..

80 Responses

Hopefully they will show a bit more Drive and motivation this week. It can’t be easy winning almost every week and with the leagu just about sewn up.

Caption : I told you not eat one of those Ibrox pies.

Rob O'KeeffeMarch 19, 2017 at 9:34 am ·

Ralph,I get the feeling you are running scared after the mighty 5 year olds took a point off of us.You could tell by the way that their players and “fans” behaved at the end that they were so disappointed to only get one! Hopefully Brendan has told the Bhoys we are up against it today against the Dee and that our long unbeaten run is probably coming to an end.Then again,guys like me and BR will probably be looking to win 3-0,play some magic football and have our plans for the semi worked on over the next fortnight while Scotland give us a break and a laugh.Ralph,never lose the Faith,it’ll frighten the younger Bhoys.HH

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 12:14 pm ·

Rob,
A little fear or a little nerves is a good thing, it’s only when these elements overpower you that it’s an issue.
What i’m looking for today is Celtic to start well, be assertive, assured and positive!

Caption… ” As news that “Rangers” have been drawn away in the cup, the shock is just to much for one unhappy hun”.. HH

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 9:47 am ·

Caption: Post Semi final Hun wag drop in.

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 9:51 am ·

Ralph,
Don’t know if you watched any of the two day trial at the supreme court, but Lord Carnwath didn’t inspire confidence as he (at times) didn’t seem to know what the fuck anyone was talking about 🙂

Thank you Ralph for nominating my comment for the caption competition, I’ve won more on this site then the lottery in 5 years, the cheque is in the post, enjoy , Hail, Hail

Honest HoopsMarch 19, 2017 at 10:20 am ·

Caption; Dundee lass has been proposed to….

portpowerMarch 19, 2017 at 10:46 am ·

How`s life Îles du sevco FC?

mikeMarch 19, 2017 at 11:04 am ·

Of course we know, that Doncaster was aware of the EBTs,
Of course we know, that Regan was aware of the EBTs,
Of course we know, about the secretive 5 way agreement,
Of course we know, that the SFA and SPFL continue to promote the liquidation denial,
Of course we know, that they continue to promote one team,
Of course we know, that they paid sky £250,000 per season to show thems games on t.v.
Of course we know, that the Scuddish press and National broadcaster continue to promote one team and continue with the same club myth,
Of course we know, that the refs are a bunch of incompetent cheats,
Of course we know, that we have been and continue to be CHEATED.
STRIP the titles.
Celtic to struggle to a narrow 3-0 win today, then to struggle to a 2-0 win at Hertz, to win title no 6. COYBIG.

portpowerMarch 19, 2017 at 11:12 am ·

Caption:

Ladina gets wind that the war chest`s been found.

BrianMarch 19, 2017 at 11:16 am ·

Caption:….But it was just the holding company that got liquidated…So, it’s the same club..

The players have been brilliant this season, great attitude in almost every single match.
Let’s have confidence in them and get behind them, a draw with Sevco is embarrassing but that has gone now.
Dundee 1 Celtic 5

Man of the match today.Stand back and light the fuse,Willie Collum.Booked all the hammer throwers and pulled play back when Celtic didn’t get any advantage,at least 3 times.Armstrong and KT excellent.Others are running on fumes.Hope all players called up for international games have developed slight niggles but will be fit for Title Day,after a nice rest,I mean some physio,cough,cough. Signed Monti.

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 6:40 pm ·

Gollum had a good game!

MikeleleMarch 19, 2017 at 5:26 pm ·

Armstrong is turning into a pivotal player for us. He has come on leaps and bounds this season. Fantastic football player!

Will Sevco ever learn lol. Hamilton are fuckin garbage but casheeena is now the genius that they have been searching for. Remember the magic hat? He was a footballing philosopher apparently.

When your patter is shite and she’s not falling for it, try Rohypnol! If shagging an unresponsive sand bag is your thing!

WeeredMarch 19, 2017 at 6:48 pm ·

Mmm obviously you have tried and tested this romantic approach… It might be worthy of some merit

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 5:45 pm ·

Good to get the points today, poor passing in the first half was a bit of a concern but we improved in the second half.
Not liking this chop and changing the central defenders, Boyata still a major worry.
Kouassi looked like a headless chicken when he came on.
Sinclair off form is having a detrimental impact and a wee bit disappointed Griffiths not on today.
Great delivery by James Forrest for Armstrong’s goal, Forrest once again proving his value to the side.
So it’s 6 in a row at Tynecastle…..nice!

TicTocMarch 19, 2017 at 7:40 pm ·

Just about spot on there, Monti. Kouassi, very hopefully, took stage fright and it’s a one-off. We were coasting until he came on, and we saw what happened in the last 15-20 minutes.
Boyatta looked insecure again, as he did against the tribute act. James was as good as we had today (possibly excepting Armstrong) and I’m not Jamesie’s biggest fan. I think Jozo is probably the best footballer in our back three but not sure about his heart. Moussa and Scott Sinclair poor again. Not too bad a game tho’ and it’ll keep us on our toes, I hope.
Tynecastle is as good as anywhere to secure the title.
HH

Leões de LisboaMarch 19, 2017 at 6:23 pm ·

Caption: Woman still in coma after a young Dave King boasts about his wealth.

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 6:44 pm ·

Caption: ‘ Phoenix from the flames ‘ David Murray tries the crossbar challenge.

BroxburnbhoyMarch 19, 2017 at 7:11 pm ·

Another 3 and the title is ours at “swinecastle” how nice will that be – answer very!

mikeMarch 19, 2017 at 7:18 pm ·

Patton, Eisenhower, and now Nixon, someone’s been gifted a set of American, encyclopedia’s, whatever next, Clit Clinton, on how to tadger by cigar?
Another hard fought Celtic win, with 6 out of 11 Scots in the team, but another gob shite performance by the man in black and blue, that being the operative words, for the treatment handed out to Cellic players AGAIN, the pattern continues.
Boyata, having sold himself again, assisted the Dee, to come back into the game, but Brendan realising his mistake in the last game, shored up the Tic. defence, by bringing on Sviat. good to see Sumo. coming back into the team, so will the next transfer window, bring in a new centre back, yes please.
Forrest was my MOM he had the Dee full back on toast.
Hertz in two weeks to seal the deal, meanwhile a well earned rest for some players, three cheers for the Tic.

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 7:35 pm ·

Mike,
Agreed m8!

Dziekanowski's nightclub childMarch 19, 2017 at 8:41 pm ·

Caption: don’t worry, she just watched the new guys rangers and now has heard the Qatari’s are coming!

WeeredMarch 19, 2017 at 9:08 pm ·

Does Qatari still make video games?

SteveNaiveMarch 19, 2017 at 8:46 pm ·

Mike, possible six Celts in action with Scotland’s games.

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 9:07 pm ·

I would rather none of our players were in the squad!

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 7:36 am ·

Cannot be bad Steve, long live the Tic. not forgetting the Toc. H.H.

mikeMarch 19, 2017 at 10:28 pm ·

Interesting to draw comparisons between MON’s side and Brendans.

MON, Douglas, Agathe, Valgaeren, Baldie, Mjalby, Thomson.

Petrov, Lennon, Lambert, Larsson and Sutton.

Brendan. Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Sumonovic, Tierny,

Brown, Armstrong, McGregor,

Forrest, Dembelle, Sinclair.
My take is,— only, Gordon, Tierny and Brown from Brendans team, might make it into MON’s team, bearing in mind, the difference between finances available and the financial doping that was going on.

MontiMarch 19, 2017 at 11:42 pm ·

Not so sure about this, if it’s about formations, say both played a 4-4-2..
I would have Sinclair or Forrest before Agathe.

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 7:40 am ·

Did think about that Monti, but Agathe was IMO better and stronger tracking back, but you are correct both players, Forrest and Stinky would have been great for MON’s team.

MontiMarch 20, 2017 at 8:17 am ·

Mike,
For 50,000 Beep Beep did a great job for Celtic,up and down that right flank, his work was best done as you say, getting back and covering.
I used to sit in the North stand upper in those days, he used to frustrate me with his shite crossing.
Although his crossing was ok in Seville 🙂

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 8:24 am ·

Beep Beep, Choo Choo, the Agathe train now approaching ffaasstttttttttt.
Happy days, we were then in the Jock Stein stand.
A wonderful team and Manager, great days, as now to be a Tic. supporter. It was the times in between, Lenny excepted, that were keech.

mikeMarch 19, 2017 at 10:40 pm ·

Does this make Brendan a better Manager? NO this makes them both exceptional Managers, based on the different criterior at the different times that both Managed Celtic.
It is also, by the points difference proves that the team, basically the same team under the previous manager, has improved massively.
One player signed in January and he, still to play a full 90 minuets. So the cost of transfers to Celtic, is minimal.
Bring on the summer, new signings to still further, improve the team.
Well done the Cellic players, the ICC. the C.L. have made this a long, long season, but you have been like the Management team, brilliant, just brilliant.
H.H. (Harry Hood). and L.L. (Lisbon Lions).

WeeredMarch 19, 2017 at 11:05 pm ·

Mike.. Well said… Ye forgot to mention that there’s no connection between BR and MON only that they are both Northern Irish geniuses… So many of us too and all modest also 🙂

WeeredMarch 19, 2017 at 11:22 pm ·

Mike, I’d make MONs reign more notable as he had to contend with some of those footballing mercenaries who bought into the scumbag EBT schemes.

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 7:26 am ·

Weered, the different criterior, being the financial doping that I mentioned previously.
Great Managers both, add Tommy Johnstone at Perth, (Lenny’s pal) Michael O Neil, Lenny and others to see that the North has produced some great Managers. Hail Hail, to them.

MontiMarch 20, 2017 at 8:20 am ·

Long may that continue, it means a lot to see an Irish manager at Celtic Park.
Anything that antagonises the Hun get’s my backing!

UraliusMarch 19, 2017 at 11:24 pm ·

Peter Løvenkrans: We were dancing and I told her how much EBT money I might have to pay back….

Caption: Young nurse faints after witnessing the Monti penis before the op.
Today’s match and we have continued in the same mood as previous games. For some reason the speed of movement and forward passing has gone,and we are playing far too many sideways tippy tappy shite.
Poor passing and wrong choices, also Dembele and Sinclair have been terrible lately yet seem to be untouchable as Brendan signed them. This can’t be good for team morale.
I know they have been exceptional this season,but you have to be fair. Griff should be given the go ahead next week with Dembele on the bench.

Forrest was the match winner for me today great assists and shouldn’t gave been subbed. Sinclair should have went off first before Jamesy.
Our strongest central defenders are Jozo and Eric time to get Boyata back on the bench.

MontiMarch 20, 2017 at 8:22 am ·

Absolutely!
The Hibs bench 🙂

BrenceltMarch 20, 2017 at 7:33 am ·

“Neil Doncaster, the man who is charged with running the SPFL”
I think running is a typo and should be ruining instead.

COYBIG

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 7:41 am ·

Hope its now running down his leg Bren.

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 7:33 am ·

Completely agree Jimmy, this in my opinion is down to players being very, very tired, supporters forget, the number of games that the players have played, also bear in mind that Dembelle and Sinky hardly played at all last season.
Get it won, (no 6) and forget the run of winning games, play some of the younger players and some of the squad, but rest a lot of first team players. (A big break for them).

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 8:19 am ·

Cup semi’s excepted.

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 8:27 am ·

Lenny needs to watch out for Jim Duffy’s Morton, coming up fast on the outside, keep focused Lenny, we need the Hibees back, the more Green the better, luved Jim to tho.

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 8:38 am ·

No that wee green cunt Harvie tho, an unelected gob shite I would get it right up him, only thing is he would enjoy it, a stain on St Paddy’s name.

MontiMarch 20, 2017 at 8:24 am ·

Mike,
I disagree with you pal,
Going undedeated IS important.
Players can’t be tired, there is only one game a week now, plenty time to rest up between games.

mikeMarch 20, 2017 at 8:36 am ·

Its the mental tiredness tho Monti, its important to everybody for the player’s to come back for the C.L. Qualifiers, completely rested and raring to go.
I doubt tho that Brendan will let that happen.